The Dutch National Museum recently admitted that one of its most prized possessions, a rock supposedly from the moon, is actually a piece of petrified wood.

Rijksmuseum spokeswoman Xandra van Gelder, who oversaw the investigation that proved the piece was a fake, said the museum will keep it anyway as a curiosity.

"It's a good story, with some questions that are still unanswered," she said. "We can laugh about it."

The museum acquired the rock after the death of former Prime Minister Willem Drees in 1988. Drees received it as a private gift on Oct. 9, 1969 from then-U.S. ambassador J. William Middendorf during a visit by the three Apollo 11 astronauts, part of their "Giant Leap" goodwill tour after the first moon landing.

thais news is about two weeks ago and i was curious how could they do it at the beginning as a joke?? Wasnt it cheating? LOL The dutch are so kind and they decide to keep it in the musuem. I think it is a very generous way to handle the situation. Thumb up!